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Y One end of this label plate, as at c, .0, 0

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

THOMAS P. TROT'I, OF NVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LABEL FOR MAIL-BAGS, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 28,023, dated April 24, 1860.

To all who/m. it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS P'. TRoTT, of the city and county of Washington and District of Columbia, have invented a certain new and Improved Method of Labeling Mail and other Bags, Packages, Bundles, Bales, Parcels, Boxes, te.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and mode of applying and using the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents in perspective, a portion of a mail bag or pouch, with several modifications of my general plan of labeling, shown upon it. Fig. 2 represent-s in perspective a portion of a newspaper or other bag, with a plan of uniting the label in question thereto.

I am aware that removable, and reversible labels have been heretofore used. These I do not claim.

The nature of my invention consists in a label plate, having a shield or shields upon or in it-one end of said plate being perma nently attached to the bag, box, or package, but so that it may be turned over on said fastening-while the opposite end may be locked, sealed, buckled, tied, or in any safe manner fastened to said bag, boX, or package, so that it may be loosened or detached, when it becomes necessary to turn it. And my invention further consists in using in connection with such a label-plate, a printed, stamped, or marked card, paper, or parchmentf-or any other suitably flexible material, as cloth, leather, &c., that indicates on it, the name or place where it is designed to be sent, or the name or place from whence it has been sent, or both.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings. Y

ce, represents a label plate. It may be cast of any metal-and if of iron, may be annealed to prevent it from breaking. Or, this plate may be struck up of one, or more pieces, of plate or sheet metal of any kind.

7 may have a dead eye, or opening in it, to receive a staple (e), or a staple (f,) by which that end of it is permanently fastened to the bag A. Or, as at the labelplate, may have two flat-Shanks that will admit of being turned in their supports or bearings z', z', the bearings being permanently attached to the bag, and the label plate reversible in said bearings, but not removable therefrom. The other ends of the label-plates, may be secured, by hasp, staple, and lock, as at m; by a flat shank and catch piece as at n, or by a buckle and strap as at 0. All these modifications of my general plan, makes the label plate permanent on or with the bag, but so that said plate may be turned over on such fastening-while the other end of the plate may be detached, or turned over also.

In Fig. 2, I have shown the application of this label to newspaper bags. Its turning end 7, may be fastened by a staple, or by any other of the plans shown in Fig. 1, and its upper end may have one, two, or more holes, through which, the lacing cord,

chain, or strap that fastens the mouth of the bag, may pass, to hold it, and prevent it from turning of itself. With these several modifications of the mode of applying these label-plates to bags it will be readily seen how they may be applied to packages, boxes, or bundles of any or every kind. One or both of the faces of this plate a, has a fillet, flange, or projection s, formed upon it, which leaves a recess or panel u, into which the printed, stamped or otherwise marked label is placed or pasted-the flanges or projections perfectly protecting said label from abrasion or defacement-or, from being accidentally removed.

The label plate represented at c, has one of the printed labels represented as applied to it. These labels, I propose to make of any suitable fibrous or textile substance, that can be conveniently fastened into the panels or recesses of the label plate, and be removed therefrom when it becomes necessary, to replace them by others. A simple, cheap, and effectual label may be made of paper having the name, place, or destination upon it either printed or otherwise; and if printed or writ ten, to make it endurable, and not easily effected by the weather the printed or marked face, may be varnished over, with any weather proof varnish. And the back of the label may be furnished with some adhesive gum, paste, or matter, that will make it adhere to the plate. In any event the label should be so applied to the plate as to be removable therefrom, or to admit of another placed over it, otherwise one plate could only serve for two names or places, while my obj ect is to make the plates available anywhere, or for any name or place.

As I have represented the label plateits panel or recess is a part of the metal of which the plate itself is composed. Now, itis obvious that the label itself, or the back to which it may be attached may form that panel-the plate in this case being'in skelet0n. Such, and many other, obvious modifications of my general plan, will suggest themselves to any skilful person, and I do not therefore mention them in detail, as the leading characteristics of my invention will fully show its nature, extent, and application.

Having thus fully described the nature and object of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s- 1. A label plate so fastened by one or both of its ends to a mail or other bag, package, box, or other thing, as that while it is permanently attached thereto, it may nevertheless be turned thereon, substantially as herein described, when said plate is furnished with a shield, panel, or raised llet, flange, or projection, as set forth.

2. And I claim in combination with such a label plate that is permanently attached to the bag, package, or boX, and is furnished with such a shield o1' panel, the attachable and removable labels such as herein described and represented.

THOMAS P. TROTT.

Witnesses D. SAUNDERS, J. F. ADAMS. 

